Use of geo-textiles may be made mandatory in infrastructure, defence

NEW DELHI: Government is likely to make the use of technical and geo-textiles mandatory in construction of infrastructure like roads, ports and dams, as well as in sectors like defence and railways, an official said today.

Besides, enhancement of capital subsidies to procure such machinery, which are largely imported, is under consideration, Textile Commissioner Kiran Soni Gupta said at a seminar on geo-textiles organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce here.

"Government is also toying with an idea of encouraging start-ups to enlist their participation in geo-textile making by supporting them through the textile technology mission scheme," a PHD Chamber statement quoted Gupta as saying.

She pointed out that construction of road, ports, airports, railways, canals, dams and sectors like defence need to be upgraded with technical and geo-textiles for safety.

It becomes all the more important to make the applications and uses of such textiles mandatory to widen their base, she said.

The Centre could promote and support technical and geo-textile start-ups through its technology mission, which is going to be broad-based, Gupta indicated.

Moreover, she said, capital subsidies for obtaining such machinery could be increased as there was serious thinking going on within the government on this issue.

Interest subsidy could also be expanded since states like Rajasthan, Maharastra and Tamil Nadu make a significant contribution on this front.